Driver Pham Minh Ha said the incident happened when the train No.477 of Vietnam Railways was on its way from Hanoi to the northern province of Yen Bai.

Two of its 20 oil-tanks derailed and overturned at the turn to Phu Tho’s Phu Duc station, he said.

Nguyen Huu Phuc, station master of Phu Duc, said soon after the accident took place they moved other compartments from the area because of the risk of fire and explosions. The provincial railway administration agency also cooperated with firefighters in collecting oil from the two compartments.

All trains from Hanoi to Lao Cai province and from Hanoi to Yen Bai have been halted till the oil is cleared up. No details about the amount of oil spilled have been released.